Recent suspected acts of sabotage against substations in Germany have highlighted the need to strengthen the physical protection of critical energy infrastructure. Substations play a vital role in ensuring a reliable power supply, yet they often cover large areas and are in remote or difficult-to-monitor environments. Fences and camera systems remain essential, but may provide only limited warning before an intruder reaches critical equipment.
AP Sensing offers a fiber optic Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) based on Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS). A sensor cable installed along a fence or buried underground transforms the entire perimeter into a continuous array of virtual acoustic sensors. The system detects, precisely localizes, and classifies activities such as approaching footsteps, fence climbing or cutting, digging and unauthorized vehicle movements in real time.
AI-based analytics help distinguish relevant security events from environmental influences such as wind, rain or wildlife, reducing false alarms and the workload for security personnel. Detected events can be visualized in AP Sensing’s SmartVision software and integrated into existing security management or SCADA systems. This enables operators to assess threats quickly and coordinate a targeted response.
Early detection transforms perimeter security from passive observation into proactive protection.
The passive fiber optic sensor cable requires neither electrical power nor active electronic components along the monitored perimeter. This makes the solution particularly suitable for reliable, low-maintenance monitoring of large and remote substation sites.
No single technology can prevent every attack. However, combining fences, cameras and security personnel with continuous fiber optic monitoring provides an additional layer of protection. By detecting and localizing suspicious activity at an early stage, DAS gives operators valuable time to respond before intruders reach critical equipment - supporting operational continuity and a more resilient power infrastructure.
